Smith & Cross Traditional Jamaican Rum (75cl, 57%)

Smith & Cross is a navy-strength pot still rum from Hampden Estate in Trelawny, Jamaica, bottled at 57% and sold in a 75cl bottle. It blends two Hampden styles: Wedderburn, aged around six months, and Plummer, aged between 18 months and three years in ex-bourbon barrels. Both are distilled in copper pot stills after dunder pit fermentation, which gives the rum its pronounced funk. The wash is made from molasses along with cane juice and syrup pressed from fresh sugarcane. Overripe banana leads on the nose, with leather, baking spice and molasses. The palate brings grilled pineapple, banana bread, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and black tea tannins. The finish is moderately long and warming, with tobacco, spice and grapefruit.